Liking You

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” ~ Maya Angelou

If I could share one message with the entire world, it would be simple: Do whatever you have to do, make whatever changes you feel you need to make, give up anything that gets in your way, but please…find a way to truly like who you are.

That’s it.

I am not talking about having some smug sense of self-importance or feeling of superiority. Not at all, that would just make you a jerk. I am also not talking about having some ego-driven “Of course I like myself, look at me, everyone around me likes me” attitude. That, too, in my opinion, would just make you a jerk.

In fact, I am not talking about you relative to anyone else. I am talking about the you that you truly are, the stripped down, bare, vulnerable, and real “you.” When you see that “you,” do you like yourself and the way you are living your life and walking in this world?

Here’s what I know: People who have a healthy understanding of who they are and truly like themselves make this world a better place. We need more of them. These people are empathetic, compassionate, respectful, forgiving, helpful, and honest. They are consistent and approachable. They don’t compare themselves to other people to get a sense of how they are doing because they hold themselves to their own standard. They are not defensive. They don’t judge other people. They surround themselves with people who make them think, reach, and continue to grow.

People who truly like themselves are easy to like.

To be clear, I am not saying these people are perfect. They just know who they are and who they want to be and in their daily lives are steadfastly true to that. And when they slip up, they learn from the experience, forgive themselves, and move on. No drama, no retribution, no wounds, just growth.

Do you truly like who you are? Will there be a better time than now to create a really healthy and great and loving relationship with yourself? That last one was a trick question…you and I know that now is the only and best time. So, let’s go.

And by the way, just to remind you…there is nothing wrong with you. Nothing in this world. Accept it. And from that place, what’s not to like?